title: "New chronic" patients.
abstract: A five-year follow-up of 1467 mental hospital patients showed that 501 had died, 449 had been discharged, and 517 were still resident. During this period 81 "new chronic" patients aged under 65 were admitted: 49 were readmissions and 15 of 32 first admissions had had previous periods in other psychiatric hospitals. Many new chronic patients were old chronic with intervals of community care, and one-third of them were likely to require permanent care. These findings provide no comfort for those who believe that present DHSS plans for mental health services can ever be realised.
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008131:London; D008134:Long-Term Care; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D010347:Patient Care Planning